Coin-controlled mechanism for vending-machines.



A. DQGROVER.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I4. I912.

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A. D. GROVER. COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14. 1912. 1 ,200,724. Patented Oct. 10,1916.

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ALBERT D. GROVE R, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOSALES GUM AND CHOCOLATE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,' A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Application filed September 14, 1912. Serial No. 720,338.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT D. Gnovnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin- Controlled Mechanism for Vending- Machines, of which the following, is a specification.

My invention relates to coin-controlled vending machines and has for its object the provision of new and improved mechanism which controls the operation of the machine through the medium of the deposited coin.

One feature of novelty which characterizes my invention is a combined coin-testing and coin-carrying device which automatically ejects coins of less than a prescribed diameter, such checks as washers which have a hole in the center, and checks of flexible or brittle material. This cointesting device is rotatablymounted and is permanently connected with an operating member on the outside of the machine. In the preferred form .of my invention, the shaft or spindle on which the coin-carrier is mounted for rotation, also carries the ejecting mechanism. This mechanism which is normally disconnected from the coin-carrier, has a portion so arranged relatively to the coin-carrier that when a proper coin is deposited and supported on the carrier, the coin establishes operative connection between the carrier and the ejecting mechanism. The rotatable coin-carrier is also provided with an arcuate extension which is adapted to support a deposited coin when the carrier is out of normal position. When the latter reaches its normal or initial position, the coin automatically drops from the arcuate extension on to the coin-carrier into operative position. This positively prevents the loss of a coin which was deposited while the coin-carrier was not in its normal position.

Another feature of novelty resides in a coin-chute having a yieldable wall at its lower end. The object of this is to prevent breaking of the machine in case someone should deposit a piece of metal of such length as to remain partly in the coin-chute while resting on the coin-carrier, with a perfectly rigid coin-chute, the attempted operation of the machine under those circumstances would inevitably result in breaking some part of the mechanism and throwing the machine out of commission. However, the yieldable wall gives way sufficiently to allow the piece oi metal to pass out of the coin-chute. My new and improved coinchute is also provided with a discharge opening which is so arranged that when three coins are deposited in succession without operation ofthe machine, the third coin is automatically discharged through said opening. This prevents clogging of the machine by the successive deposition of coins or checks.

The above and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a detailed description of the accompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of my invention and in which Figure 1, is a front elevation of a portion of a vending machine equipped with my invention. Fig. 2, is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the working parts in a different position, to show the effect of a long piece or strip of metal on the yieldable wall of the coin-chute; and Fig. 4, is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the coin-carrier out of normal position, and also showing how the deposited coin forms a rigid connection between the coin-carrier and the operating member of the ejecting mechanism.

In the side walls of the outer casing 1 of the machine is journaled the shaft or spindle 2 which has at its outer end secured thereon the operating handle or lever 3. The coin-carrier, indicatedas a whole by 1, is rigidly mounted on the spindle 2, so that movement of the handle 3 is always accompanied by a corresponding movement of the coin-carrier. This carrier comprises a hub portion 5 from which extends the radial arm 6 provided with a pin 7 and an arcuate extension 8. On the base of the arm 6 the hub f the coin-carrier is provided with the coin-receiving groove 9. A contractile spring 10, secured at its lower end to the casing at 11 and at its upper end to the lug 12 of the extension 8, normally holds the coin-carrier in the position shown in Fig. 2. A fixed stop 13 suitably mounted on the casing limits the movement of the coin-carrier. When the latter is in normal position, the arm 6 rests against the" stop 13. The forward movement ofthe coin-carrier is limited by the shoulderl l engaging the stop 13. l

On the spindle 2 is rotatably mounted the hollow shaft 15, which in the broad aspect of my invention, may be considered as an operating member of the ejecting mechanism. No specific form of ejecting mechanism is essential to the operation of my invention, and for the sake of illustration I have shown an ejecting finger 16 on the shaft 15. This finger is arranged to eject the lowermost package out of the magazine 17 at each operation of the machine. In Fig. l the packages are indicated by dotted lines 18. There may of course be any number of magazines in the machine. In my copending application, Serial No. 720,339 filed September 14, 1912 I have shown an arrangement of magazines and ejecting fingers which may well be used in connection with the coin-controlled mechanism of my present invention. The shaft 15 is at one end provided with a head or enlargement 19 to which is rigidly secured the metal spider 20 having a plurality of radial arms 21. In the present instance I have shown four of these arms arranged at degrees apart, because in this case I have assumed that my coin-controlled mechanism is used in a machine having four magazines. It is obvious that the number of arms 21, as well as the amount of movement of the coin-carrier, will vary with the number of magazines in the machine. Thus, with three magazines there would be three arms arranged at an angle of 120 degrees, and the coin-carrier would be operated one third of a revolution. Each of the arms 21 is provided with a horizontal or axial extension 22 having a beveled coin-slot 23. Suitable centering means may be provided for insuring the stoppage of the shaft 15 in a position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 2, which may be called the normal position of the shaft.

It will be clear from Fig. 2 that with the parts in normal position, a coin deposited in the coin-chute 24 will fall on to the coincarrier to the position indicated by C in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Fig. 1. When the coin is in this its proper position on the carrier, the lower edge of the coin rests in the groove 9 while the upper edge engages in the slot 23 of the alined arm 21. The position of rest of the shaft 15 is always such that one of the coin receiving slots 23 will always be in alinement with the lower end of the coin-ehute 2 1 to allow the deposited coin to pass on to the coin-carrier.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be clear that when the handle 3 is pulled down, the pin 7 ofthe coinca;rrier will bear against the coin. C substantially at the centerand thereby hold-the coin in rigid position to form an operative connection between thev coincarrier andfthe shaft Whenthehandle 3 has been pulled down to the limit of its movement. the shaft 15 is received a 90 degree rotation forwardly (in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2). during which movement the ejecting mechanism controlled by the shaft 15' ejects a package of goods. WV hen the handle 3 is released, it flies back to its initial position under the influence of the spring 10. The shaft 15, however, remains in its operated position, and the parts are ready to receive another coin. It will be observed that in the normal position of the parts, the deposited coin is supported in operative position on the carrier by the slotted extensions on the arms 21, and that during the operation of the parts the pin or extension 7 serves to maintain the coin in rigid position between the connected members. As the slotted arms 21 and the coincarrier are mounted concentrically, they rotate as one unit in fixed relation to each other through the medium of the deposited coin, which connects the members through the entire forward movement of the coincarrier. When the coin-carrier is released and returns to normal position, during which period the slotted arm engaged by the coin is in horizontal position, the coin drops by gravity from the slotted arm. Or, should it remain sticking in the horizontal arm, it will drop when the arm passes downwardly from horizontal to vertical position during the next operation of the machine. The coin-carrier 4: also serves to test the deposited coins as to diameter, form and rigidity. If the deposited coin is smaller than the prescribed. diameter, the upper edge of the coin will not extend into the alined coin-receiving slot 23, under which conditions the operation of the coin-carrier would produce no movement of the shaft 15. Should the deposited check be a washer, the pin 7 would enter the hole in the washer, and no movement of the shaft 15 would follow.

Fig. illustrates very clearly what effect the pin 7 has on a good coin and on a washer. In this figure the proper coin is shown in full lines at C while the washer is shown in dotted lines at 25. The coin C is carried bodily in a forward direction during the operation of the lever 3. The washer, however, falls back upon the surface 6 of the arm 6 into an inoperative position. Should the deposited coin be of easily breakable material, the strain put upon the material by the pin 7 would break or bend the check, before the shaft 15 could move suhiciently to cause ejection of the goods. The curved extension 8 on the coin-carrier 4 is for the purpose of temporarily sustaining a deposited coin when the coin-carrier is out of normal position. When the coin-carrier isin normal position, asshown in Fig. 2, the extension 8 is toi the rear of; the. coinchute 24 and out of the path of the falling coin. However, when the operating lever 3 is drawn forwardly, as shown in Fig. l, the extension 8 extends across the lower end of the coin-chute so as to form a sup-port for a coin which might then be deposited. Fig. A shows the coin C temporarily supported on the extension 8. As the coincarrier reaches the end of its return movement, the extension 8 passes from under the coin C and the latter drops into proper position on the coin-carrier. This prevents loss of the coin to the patron.

It has already been stated that the slots 23 in the arms 22 are beveled outwardly. The purpose of this construction can best be explained by reference to Fig. 2. Should a second coin be deposited on top of the coin C, it will be clear that this second coin would rest on top of the coin C, with its lower edge in the alined slot 23. When the handle 3 is pulled forwardly with the coins in this position, the upper coin will ride upwardly on the beveled side of the slot 23 without interfering with the operation of the handle. After the upper coin has thus passed out of the slot 23 it passes on to the extension 8 where it is supported until the coin-carrier returns, as previously explained in detail. The forward end of the extension-"8 is preferably beveled upwardly and rearwardly, as shown at 8*, so as to take the coin gradually without any jar. If the sides of the slots 23 were straight there would be great danger of the second coin remaining in the slot at its lower edge and thus locking the machine against operation. The beveled sides also perform the additional function of guiding the coin through the slot on to the coin-carrier.

The coin-chute 2A is secured in place in any suitable way, as by means of the bracket 26 fastened to the casing of the machine by bolts or screws 27. At the mouth of the coin-chute 25 is a plate 28 having the coinentrance slot 29 which registers with the slot 30 in the outer casing of the machine. The lower front portion of the coin-chute 25 consists of a yieldable wall which in the present instance is shown in the form of a sprmg 31 fixed to the front side of the chute by rivets 32 or otherwise. The normal set of the spring keeps the same in the positionshown in Figs. 2 and 4. The purpose of the v yieldable wall 31 is to prevent breaking of the machine by a strip of such length as to fail to clear the coin-chute when the strip rests on the coin-carrier. Such a strip is shown at 33 in Fig. 3. It will be clear from this figure that when the arm 3 is pulled down after the strip 33 has been deposited, the spring 31 yields in the direction of movement of the coin-carrier sufliciently to allow the strip 33 to pass out of engagement with the spring. Otherwise the machine would under such conditions be put out of commission.

The rear wall of the coin-chute 24 is provided with a discharge opening 3% to cause automatic discharge of a coin deposited on top of the coin C in Fig. A. In other words the opening 34 prevents the machine from taking more than two coins at a time, thus preventing clogging of the machine by successively deposited coins or checks.

While I have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, itis clear that in the broad aspect of my invention the various features of novelty may be mechanically carried out in other ways than that shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a coin-operated vending machine, a rotatable coin-carrier having a hub portion provided with a groove, a radial arm extending from said hub portion, a rigid pin substantially midway on said arm for engaging the coin approximately at the center thereof to sustain the same in operative position on the carrier, the lower edge of the sustained coin resting in said groove, a rotatable member mounted concentrically with said coin-carrier but independently thereof, a plurality of radial arms provided on said member, a flat slotted extension projecting horizontally from each of said arms and arranged to be engaged by the upper edge of the coin on the carrier, whereby said coincarrier and said member are operatively connected by the coin to rotate as one unit in fixed relation to each other, means for manually rotating said coin-carrier through a predetermined arc to cause suilicient rotation of said member to bring the next slotted extension into coin-receiving position, and means for automatically restoring said coincarrier to normal position when released, said member remaining in operated position.

2. In a coin-operated vending machine, a rotatable coin-carrier having a hub portion provided with a groove, a radial arm extending from said hub portion, a rigid pin substantially midway on said arm for engaging the coin approximately at the center thereof to sustain the same in operative position on the carrier, the lower edge of the sustained coin resting in said groove, a rotatable member mounted concentrically with said coin-carrier but independently thereof, a plurality of radial arms provided on said member, a flat slotted extension projecting horizontally from each of said arms and arranged to be engaged by the upper edge of the coin on the carrier, whereby said coincarrier and said member are operatively connected by the coin to rotate as one unit in fixed relation to each other, means for manually rotating said coin-carrier through a extension into coin-receiving predetermined arc to cause sufiicient rota tion of said member to bring the next slotted position, means for automatically restoring said coin-carrier to normal position when released, said member remaining in operated position, anda curved extension projecting from the arm on said coin-carrier at one side of thehub portion thereof to support the deposited coin when the carrier is out of normal position,

said curved extension being approximately having a radial arm provided With a horizontal slotted extenslon arranged to receive sustain the coin in aposition to form a rigid operative connection between the same. the slot 1n said extension being outwardly beveled so that a second coin deposited on top of the first coin will be readily lifted out of said slot during the operation of said members.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 4th day of September 1912.

ALBERT D. GROVER. itnesses F. .CORNELL, H. V. Toomss.

Copies of this patent may be obtaincdlor five'cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

